Seat and couch structure

ABSTRACT

A convertible seat structure comprises a pair of internally reinforced, dual-faced cushion members pivotally supported on spaced parallel axes by supports adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface, the spacing between the axes accommodating the presentation of either cushion member between the axes in a generally horizontal or seating position. The other cushion member may be pivotally brought to a backrest position, and with either cushion member being usable in a seating or backrest attitude, there is provided a chair or bench adjustable to face in either of two opposite directions without any change in the position of the supports. Two such assemblies of cushion members may be juxtaposed and their cushion members variously adjusted to horizontal or inclined positions to provide a chaise, a recliner, or a couch or bed.

United States Paten 1191 Runyon et al.

[4 Oct. 7, 1975 SEAT AND COUCH STRUCTURE 22 Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 211App]. No.: 385,822

[52] US. Cl 297/63; 297/92 [51] Int. Cl. A47C 1/026; A47C 13/00 [58]Field of Search 297/63-67, 297/233, 92, 108, 109, 363, 364, 257; 5/42,110, 111

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,964 4/1877 Stevens297/109 X 242,997 6/1881 Simonson... 297/92 1,366,330 l/1921 Mackie5/111 X 2,348,407 5/1944 ONeiIL... 297/67 2,911,245 4/1959 Kurz 5/111 X3,193,324 7/1965 Stock 297/64 3,227,488 1/1966 Kosbab 297/330 3,232,1362/1966 Bahmuller 5/111 X 3,423,127 1/1969 Shankman 51112 X Janssen297/92 Koziol 297/64 Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Knobbe, Martens, Olson, Hubbard & Bear [57] ABSTRACT Aconvertibleseat structure comprises a pair of internally reinforced,dual-faced cushion members pivotally supported on spaced parallel axesby supports adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface, thespacing betweenthe axes accommodating the presentation of either cushionmember between the axes in a generally horizontal or seating position.The other cushion member may be pivotally brought to a backrestposition, and with either cushion member being usable in a seating orbackrest attitude, there is provided a chair or bench adjustable to facein either of two opposite directions without any change in the positionof the supports. Two such assemblies of cushion members may bejuxtaposed and their cushion mem-' bers variously adjusted to horizontalor inclined positions to provide a chaise, a recliner, or a couch orbed.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of 33,910,630

SEAT AND COUCH STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Public acceptanceof the recreational vehicle, whether of the self-propelled type or thetrailer type, as a mobile facility for daytime living and nighttimelodging, has given rise to numerous approaches to the ac commodation ofhuman beings, whether seated or recumbent. Much effort has been devotedto the achievement of compact arrangements employing seating facilitiesthat are convertible to sleeping accommodations. The achievement ofcompactness makes recreational vehicles available to familes of modestmeans. Even in spacious vehicles in the luxury class, compactness andconvertibility of seating and sleeping arrangements makes spaceavailable for the accommodation of furnishings generally found andenjoyed in the home but not classifiable as essential to life in arecreational vehicle. The present invention relates to a convertibleseating arrangement and the recreational vehicle field is one, but notthe only, field of utilization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the preferred embodiment of the inventionthere are provided double faced cushions reinforced internally by arigid framework so that the cushions may be supported pivotally alongone edge. Either face of the cushion may provide comfortable support forthe human body and the internal framework enables the cushion to bedisposed in a horizontal position, or a sloping or vertical position,while maintaining its intended shape. One edge of the framework servesas the axis for pivotal mounting of the cushion on support members. Thesupport members may be secured to or rest upon a generally horizontalsurface such as a floor, and the cushions are pivotally mounted at theiropposite ends on spaced support members, each support member beingarranged to pivotally support a pair of cushions on parallel axes spacedapart a distance substantially equaling the dimension of a cushion in adirection normal to its pivoting axis.

Each of the two cushions supported by a pair of support members isprovided with pivot locking means for locking the cushion in a number ofangular positions about its axis and each cushion has a pivoting rangepreferably of at least 180 from horizontal to horizontal position.

With one of the cushions locked in a generally horizontal position andextending toward the axis of pivoting of the other cushion, and theother cushion in an upright position, the assembly forms a seat orbench. The direction in which the seat or bench faces may be reversed byreversing the positions of the two cushions about their pivoting axes. Asecond assembly of support members and pivotally mounted cushions may besecured or merely positioned in alignment with the first assembly andspaced from it a distance substantially equal to the dimension of acushion in a direction normal to its pivoting axis. With thisarrangement the two cushions of each of the assemblies may be adjustedto provide two seats with backrests or benches with backrests facingtoward each other, two seats with backrests or benches with backrestsfacing in the same direction, or two seats with backrests or bencheswith backrests back to back. Alternatively, one of the four cushions ofthe two assemblies may be brought into an upright position and the otherthree cushions adjusted to generally horizontal positions with thesethree positioned edge to edge, to provide a chaise. Another alternativeis to lower the single upright cushion of the chaise to a generallyhorizontal position to provide a bed. Various other arrangements may beachieved as will be described more fully hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS usable positions through the instrumentalityof the frame; I

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 33of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembly of cushions and supportmembers similar to that of FIG. 1 but with split cushions wherebyseating arrangements differing from those of FIG. 1 may be achieved;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are schematic elevational views showingcushions without support members to illustrate various arrangements thatmay be achieved with the combination of two cushions and support memberassemblies in accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, showing anarrangement for pivotally supporting cushions that is generallyapplicable to all embodiments of the invention, but especially to theembodiment shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an extension of the conceptembodied in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, and particularly toFIG. 1 the reference numeral 20 designates one of two support membersfor a pair of cushions 22 and 24. The support member 26 at the other endof the cushions 22 and 24 is merely indicated in dotted outline. Thesupport members 20 and 26 may rest upon or be secured to a floor of avehicle, such as a motor home or recreational trailer, or of a fixedstructure such as a compact residential unit which is popularly called amobile home but is not ordinarily used in a vehicular way, or thesupport members 20 and 26 may under certain utilizations of theinvention be secured to or rest on the ground. Details of the varioususes to which the embodiments of the present invention are adapted willbe set forth more fully hereinafter. At its upper end the support member20 and also the support member 26 mounts spaced cars 28 (not shown inthe case of the support member 26) which serve as pivot mountings forcushions 22 and 24.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the reference numeral 30 designates generally areinforcing frame around which the cushion, such as 22, is built. Theframe is generally rectangular in configuration and its structuralcomponents are longitudinally extending bars 32 and 34 and thetransversely extending bars 36, 38 and 40. Preferably the longitudinallyextending bar 32 which forms the axis of pivoting of the cushion 22extends, beyond the transverse bars 36 and 40 and it is convenient tohave the longitudinally extending bar 32 in the shape of a hollow tube.As indicated in FIG. 2 it is also convenient to form the longitudinallyextending bar 34 and the transversely extending bars 36 and 40 as asingle structural member, also preferably comprised of hollow tubing,and bent into a U-shape to form the transversely extending bars 36 and40, with the free ends of those bars secured to the transverselyextending bar 32 a short distance from the ends of that bar, as bywelding. The intermediate transverse bar 38 may also be in the form of ahollow tube and secured to the bars 32 and 34, again preferably bywelding. The reinforcing frame 30 may be pivotally mounted on the ears28 of spaced support members and 26 by pivot pins 42 that enter the endsof bar 32 of the cushion frame through apertures 44 in the cars 28. Itmay be desirable to provide a bearing 41 at each end of the bar 32 to beentered by the pin 42.

As a means of locking the frame in any one of a number of fixedpositions, such as from horizontal through various sloping positions tovertical there is shown secured to the ends of the bar 32 a disc 46. Thedisc 46 is provided with a plurality of indexing apertures 48, which,when brought into alignment with an aperature 50 in the ear 44, mayreceive a locking pin 52 to lock the frame 30 against rotation from adesired position of utilization. Locking means comprising disc apertures48, ear aperture 50 and locking pin 52 have been shown at only one endof the frame 30 in FIG. 2 but it will be understood that similar lockingfacilities could, if desired, be provided at the other end of the frame.It is to be understood that the specific locking arrangement comprisingthe apertured disc 46 and locking pin 52 forms no part of the presentinvention but merely indicates a species of locking mechanism that mightbe employed and that other known types of locking devices foraccomplishing the same purpose may be substituted.

The cushion is built upon and around the frame 30 in such a way that theframe 30 is generally centered between faces of the cushion, the bar 32being just inside the lower or inner edge of the cushion, the bar 34being just inside the outer or upper edge of the cushion and the bars 36and 40 being just inside the ends of the cushion. Preferably the cushionis double faced, its two faces being spaced outwardly several inchesfrom the centrally located frame 30 and with padding and othercushioning materials so located within the cushion as to provide comfortfor a portion of a human body resting upon or against either face of thecushion. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 the spacing between the axes oftwo cushions supported by a pair of support members 20, which isrepresented by the locations of the pins 42 in the apertures 44 in thetwo cushions, is generally equal to the width or height of the cushions,this being the dimension normal to the axis of pivoting, so that whenthe two cushions are adjusted to generally horizontal position andextending in the same direction from their respective axes of pivotingthe confronting edges of the two cushions will be generally or actuallyin contact with negligible space between them. This relationship isclearly indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 a second cushion assembly 18-2 may bepositioned, and if desired secured, in alignment with the assembly 18-1.The cushion assembly 18-2 is comprised of the support members 20' andthe pivotally mounted cushions 22' and 24, and the spacial relation ofthe assembly 18-2 to the assembly 18-1 is such that when the cushions22' and 24' of assembly 18-2 are in horizontal positions extending inthe same direction relative to their pivoting axes as the cushions 22 to24 of assembly 18-1 the confronting edges of the cushion 24'of theassembly 18-2 and of cushion 22 of assembly 18-1 will be in abuttingrelation or with negligible space there between.

In the solid line showing of the cushions in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which allfour are in horizontal position, they form a resilient surface with nomore than negligible gaps between cushions and become in effect amattress capable of restfully supporting one or more human bodies inrecumbent position. It will be understood that the overall extent of thefour cushions positioned side by side will approximately equal to thatof a bed of normal length.

When the cushion at one end of the row of cushions, such as the cushion24 in FIGS. 1 and 3, is raised from a horizontal position to an upwardlysloping position the structure is changed from the configuration of abed to that of a chaise, in which the back of a person is a generallysitting position rests against the upwardly extending cushion and theremainder of the body from the hips to the feet is supported in agenerally horizontal position by the two or three horizontallypositioned cushions. Because of the provision of a number of cushionlocking apertures 48 in the disc 46 the cushion that serves as abackrest may be adjusted to the optimum position of comfort for theperson being supported.

FIG. 5 shows in schematic form how the four cushions of the twoassemblies 18-1 and 18-2 may be arranged to provide seats facing eachother. This is accomplished by positioning the cushions 22 and 24 of theassembly 18-1 in positions corresponding with the position of thecushion 22 and the dotted outline position of the cushion 24 in FIG. 1,namely with the cushion 22 horizontal and extending leftwardly from itspivot and the cushion 24 upright but sloping leftwardly. The cushions ofthe assembly 18-2 are placed in an opposite attitude, namely the cushion24' extending rightwardly from its pivot and the cushion 22' upright andleaning to the right. This leaves a space between the confronting edgesof the cushion 22 and the cushion 24' where the lower legs of seatedoccupants of the chairs or benches thus formed may be extendeddownwardly toward the floor, and it also provides for the positioning ofa footed or pedestal table (not shown) that could be used for dining,card playing or any other purpose.

FIG. 6 shows the four cushions in horizontal attitudes, such as forproviding a bed, and the arrangement is similar to the solid lineshowing of FIGS. 1 and 3 exceptthat the four cushions extend rightwardlyfrom their pivots in FIG. 6 instead of leftwardly as in FIG. 1. Underthe circumstance that the support members 20 and 20' are secured to asupporting surface, such as a floor, the four cushions may be arrangedin the configuration of a bed or couch in either of two positions whichdiffer by the width of one cushion in a direction longitudinally of thebed. This could be advantageous in a recreational vehicle, for example,under the circumstance that it becomes desirable to provide spacealternatively at one end of a bed or the other for another object. Itwill also be recognized with reference to the showing in FIG. 6 that thecushion 22' may be raised to a backrest position, similar to the dottedline showing in FIGS. 1 and 3 to provide a chaise facing in the oppositedirection from the showing of FIGS. 1 and FIG. 7 shows an alternativearrangement of the four cushions, as compared with the showing in FIG.5, to provide two seats facing in the same direction. In FIG. 7 thecushions 22 and 24 of assembly 18-1 occupy generally the same positionsthat they do in FIG. 5, cushion 22 being positioned horizontally andcushion 24 being positioned generally upright. The cushions 22 and 24 ofthe assembly 18-2 are reversed, the cushion 24' being rotatedcounterclockwise from a, horizontal position to a position leaningleftwardly and the cushion 22' being rotated counter-clockwise intoahorizontal posi tion. The term upright as used throughout thisspecification includes but is not limited to a vertical position.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of the cushions to provide seating in theopposite direction by comparison with FIG. 7, the two cushions 24 and24' that are in backrest positions in FIG. 7 being rotated clockwiseinto seat positions in FIG. 8,.and the cushions 22 and 22- that are inseat position in FIG. 7 being rotated clockwise into backrest positionsin FIG. 8.

Up to this point nothing has been said concerning lengths of thecushions, the length being arbitrarily considered as the dimensionparallel to the pivoting axis, considering the cushion merely as anobject apart from any combinations, and when cushions are combined toaccommodate a human body or bodies, such as accommodations for a seatedor recumbent person, the length of a cushion becomes the width of thebody accommodating facility. Generally speaking a sleeping personrequires a greater width of body supporting surface than does a seatedperson and it is reasonable to suppose that under circumstancesofcompact seating and sleeping arrangements two persons may be seatedside by side reasonably comfortably in a width that would accommodateone sleeping person comfortably but that would be quiteuncomfortable'for two persons sleeping side by side. Hereinbefore thecombinations of cushion arrangements have been variously described aschairs, benches, chaises, couches or beds. FIG. 4 illustrates a conceptsomewhat different from those of FIGS. 1 and 3. The difference residesin the splitting of each of the two cushions of an assembly into twocushions to provide a total of four cushions. In FIG. 4 the assembly isdesignated generally by the reference numeral 18-3 and it has cushionsupport members designated by the reference numerals 20 and 26, as inFIG. 1. However, the members 20 and 26, instead of supporting singlecushions 22 and 24, now support two pairs of cushions, there being,instead of the single cushion 24 the two cushions 24A and 24B. It willbe understood, of course, that each of the four cushions will containits own reinforcing frame comparable with the frame 30 and each framewill require at its outer end a locking disc comparable with the disc 46in FIG. 2. It will also be apparent that an arrangement different fromthe pivot pins 42 in FIG. 2 will be required for seated side by side andyet facing each other as for conversational purposes. The seatingarrangement is similar to that of a piece of furniture now foundgenerally only in collections of antique furniture, which was called bya name descriptive of its purpose, namely, tete-a-tete. It may beobserved that two persons seated in the seating arrangement shown inFIG. 4 might be provided with lap boards for dining or card playing.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement of the four cushions of the two-cushionassemblies 18-1 and 18-2 which is a variant of the arrangement shown inFIG. 5. The cushions of the seating assembly 18-1 are shown with thecushion 22in a horizontal position as a seat and the cushion 24 in avertical position as a backrest. In the showing of the seating assembly18-2 the cushion 22' is in the position of a backrest cushion but istilted far- 7 ther back than the showing of the cushion 22' in FIG.

supporting the pairs of cushions in FIG. 4, and details 5. The cushion24 is shown sloping downwardly as a seat cushion so that the positionsof the two cushions 22 and 24"correspond to the backrest and seatcushions of a recliner chair in a semi-recliner attitude as comparedwith its generally upright seating attitude. It will be understood thatany one of the four cushions may be moved to slope downwardly for eitherof its horizontal positions and be locked in the downwardly slopingpositions, by providing locking apertures 48 in the locking disc 46distributed over an angular distance exceeding In FIG. 10 thepresentation of the four cushions of a pair of seating assemblies 18-1and 18-2 into recliner attitude is shown. This is accomplished bypositioning the cushions 22 and 24' of the seating assembly 18-2 inpositions similar to those shown in FIG. 9, positioning the cushion 22of the seating assembly 18-1 sloping upwardly with its free edgeconfronting the edge of the cushion 24' with cushion 24 in a horizontalposition. This will be recognized as a variant of the chaise arrangementshown in FIGS. 1 and 3 but being more completely a true recliner thanthe showing of the cushions 22' and 2 4 in FIG. 9 by virtue of theextent of the angle between the upper surfaces of the cushions 22 and24' in FIG. '10, which is greater than 180. It is unlikely that the feetof a person seated on the cushion 24' in FIG. 10 with the back restingagainst the cushion 22' would extend beyond the left hand edge of thelegrest cushion 22, so that the position of the cushion 24 would beimmaterial. The showing of the surface contact between the right handedge of the cushion 22 and the left hand edge of the cushion 24 in FIG.2 indicates that there may be sufficient resilience or yield along theedges of the cushions to permit mutual compression of two cushionscoming into engagement in this manner. If the cushions are so firm alongtheir edges as to preclude compression it will be understood that thespacing of their pivots from one another must be sufficient toaccommodate presentation of each cushion in any of the desiredpositions. It will be recognized that if the distance between the pivotsfor the cushions 22 and 24, as viewed in FIG. 10, were sufficient thatthere were a slight space between their confro confronting edges when inthe positions shown in FIG. 10 the space would be insignificant andwould not be a source of discomfort for a person seated on the cushion24'.

FIG. 12 shows the duplicate the single seating assembly with splitcushions as shown in FIG. 4, one of the two assemblies being designatedby the reference numeral 18-3, as in FIG. 4, and the other identified bythe reference numeral 18-4. In their locations with respect to eachother the seating assemblies 18-3 and 18-4 in FIG. 12 correspond to thelocations of the seating assemblies 18-1 and 18-2 in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thefour cushions of the seating assembly 18-3 in FIG. 12 have the samereference numerals as those of FIG. 4. The cushions of the seatingassembly 18-4 in FIG. 2 are identified 22C and 22D for the cushionscorresponding to the cushions 22A and 22B, and 24C and 24D for thecushions corresponding to the cushions 24A and 24B.

It will be apparent that the eight cushions of the arrangement shown inFIG. 12 may be adjusted to positions for seating four or perhaps sixpersons in correspondence with the seating arrangements shown in FIGS.5, 7 and 8 or may be adjusted to accommodate four persons seated in twoseating assemblies arranged as in FIG. 4. Also, in a bed configurationas in FIG. 6, and in a chaise configuration as in FIGS. 1 and 3 they maybe arranged to accommodate two persons, or in a recliner arrangement asin FIG. 10 they may be arranged to accommodate two persons. In FIG. 12the cushions 22B, 24B, 22D and 24D have been shown in the configurationof a recliner corresponding to FIG. 10, whereas the cushions 22A, 24A,22C and 24C are arranged in the configuration of a bed. The splitcushion feature of FIG. 12 enables one set of four cushions toaccommodate a person resting in a recumbent position while the other setof four cushions may accommodate another person resting in a recumbentposition or seated in accordance with the configuration of a chaise orrecliner, or accommodate two persons seated facing each other, facing inthe same direction, in either of two directions, or seated back to back.

In connection with the description of FIG. 4 reference was made to theneed for a different cushion supporting arrangement than that shown inFIG. 2. FIG. 11 shows one embodiment of such an arrangement. In FIG. 1 1the frames individual to cushions adapted to be pivotally supported on acommonaxis, the frames being designated generally by the referencenumerals 30A and 30B for cushions such as the cushions 24A and 24B, havetheir lower tubular frame members commonly supported on a rod 54 whichin turn is mounted in the ears at the top of the support members for thetwo cushions 24A and 248, these ears not being shown in FIG. 11 becauseFIG. 11 is a fragmentary view. A

spacer disc or washer 56 may serve as a bearing surface for theconfronting inner ends of the tubular frame members 30A and 308. In sucha structure, the locking discs 46 secured to the outer ends of thecushion frame members 30A and 303 would be rotatable with the frames 30Aand 30B upon the rod 54. This modified type of support for asplit-cushion embodiment of the invention would also be applicable tothe arrangement shown in FIG. 12.

As set forth hereinbefore the convertible seating equipment hereinbeforedescribed in detail is particularly adapted to use in recreationalvehicles, such as motor homes and travel trailers, where optimumutilization of space must be effected and compactness of all componentscomensurate with comfort of the users is very important. For example apair of assemblies iden tified herein by the reference numerals 18-1 and18-2 may be secured to the floor of a motor home or travel trailer inthe relative positions indicated in FIG. 1. For nighttime use thecushions may be adjusted to the posimay desire to be seated in theinterior of the vehicle facing forward, as contrasted with a seat in thedriving compartment, in order to observe the scenery while the vehicleis traveling from one place to another. The cushions may then bearranged in the positions shown in FIG. 7. Also, for resting orobserving the scenery from a moving vehicle the cushion 24 in the FIGS.1 and 3 may be raised to the dotted line position to dispose thecushions in the configuration of a chaise. Instead of employingconvertible seating assemblies such as those designated by the referencenumerals 18-1 and 18-2, the split cushion version, identified by thereference numeral 18-3 in FIG. 4 may be employed in pairs for providingsleeping or seating arrangements, or singly for providing seatingaccommodations only.

Another field of utilization or convertible seating arrangements inaccordance with the present invention is the so-called mobile home,which is not generally mobile in the sense of a vehicle but is usuallykept in one location and mounted on a semipermanent foundation. Livingquarters of the mobile home type may, of course be fitted with wheelsand towed from one place to another. The same considerations as tocompactness and multiple utilization of space apply to the equipment ina mobile home in generally the same manner as to the recreationalvehicle and all of the various utilizations hereinbefore described areapplicable in the case of the mobile home.

Another area of utilization of the invention, particularly in lightweight versions, is the porch or patio of residential premises. In suchusages it is likely that convertible seating assemblies such as 18-1,18-2 and 18-3 would not be secured to the supporting surface but wouldbe movable from one place to another as desired.

Still another field of usage for convertible seating structuresembodying the present invention is the motor coach field, whether forsightseeing coaches or point to point transporation coaches and railwaycars, and in the case of the latter, situations in which the seatingarrangements must be reversed without turning the coach end to end. Forexample there are in operation in many parts of the country commuterrailway trains which operate into and out of a terminal without turningthe train or any of its cars. In such a situation it becomes necessaryto reverse the seating in order that passengers shall not be required toride backward, whether inbound or outbound. Railway coaches for thisservice could be provided with a row of seat assemblies 18-1 along eachside of a center aisle so that one cushion could serve as the seat andthe other as the backrest for travel in one direction and theutilization of the two cushions could be reversed for travel in theopposite direction. For this purpose the locking facility would requireonly provision for locking each cushion in either of the two positions.As set forth hereinbefore a locking arrangement shown herein forms nopart of the present invention but typifies any of a number of usable,multi-position locking devices and for railway coach service aself-engaging locking device would be provided.

A specialized situation in which seating equipment in accordance withthe invention would have application is typified by at least one knownand currently operative scenic railway. The coaches of this railway areprovided with chairs that are not secured to the floor of the coach, andas the passenger enters the coachhefinds the chairs lined up side byside along the two sides of the coach for seating facing the centeraisle. It is the custom of passengers to reverse the positions of someof the chairs 180 so that they may sit with their backs to the aislefacing the window through which they view the scenery. It will beapparent that movably mounted chairs in such a railway coach could bereplaced by seating assemblies 18-1 placed end to end on two rows onopposite sides of a center aisle and secured to the floor of the car.With the railway coach so equipped any one of the assemblies could beadjusted for seating facing the center aisle or facing a window.

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible body supporting structure comprismg:

four cushions having generally the same dimensions and each having atleast one pair of generally parallel edges;

means pivoting each cushion on one of four fixed parallel axes spacedfrom one another a distance substantially matching the distance betweensaid pair of generally parallel edges;

means supporting said cushions and said pivoting means on said axes inan elevated relation to a hori zontal reference; means locking each ofsaid pivotally supported cushions in either of two opposite horizontalpositions and in other positions above and between the two oppositehorizontal positions whereby positioning and locking of the cushions isavailable to provide a choice of: 1. two chair-like structures facingeach other; 2. two chair-like structures back to back; 3. two chair-likestructures facing in the same direction; and I 4. a surface to support arecumbent body. 2. A convertible body supporting structure in accordancewith claim 1 wherein:

each cushion contains an internal reinforcing frame establishing theshape of the cushion and imparting to it body supporting properties. 3.A convertible body supporting structure in accordance with claim 1wherein:

the axis of pivoting of the cushions is closely adjacent to an edge ofthe cushions and the spacing between the axes of pivoting is at least asgreat as the dimension of a cushion in a direction normal to the axis ofpivoting, whereby concurrent positioning of the cushions horizontally inthe same direction relative to their axes of pivoting is accommodated.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said locking means includes means for locking at least some of saidcushions in at least one position below a horizontal position.

5. A convertible body supporting structure as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid support surface is longitudinally transferable by said pivotingmeans said distance, said supporting means remaining stationary, saidsupport surface maintaining a constant size.

1. A convertible body supporting structure comprising: four cushionshaving generally the same dimensions and each having at least one pairof generally parallel edges; means pivoting each cushion on one of fourfixed parallel axes spaced from one another a distance substantiallymatching the distance between said pair of generally parallel edges;means supporting said cushions and said pivoting means on said axes inan elevated relation to a horizontal reference; means locking each ofsaid pivotally supported cushions in either of two opposite horizontalpositions and in other positions above and between the two oppositehorizontal positions whereby positioning and locking of the cushions isavailable to provide a choice of:
 1. two chair-like structures facingeach other;
 2. two chair-like structures back to back;
 3. two chair-likestructures facing in the same direction; and
 4. a surface to support arecumbent body.
 2. two chair-like structures back to back;
 2. Aconvertible body supporting structure in accordance with claim 1wherein: each cushion contains an internal reinforcing frameestablishing the shape of the cushion and imparting to it bodysupporting properties.
 3. A convertible body supPorting structure inaccordance with claim 1 wherein: the axis of pivoting of the cushions isclosely adjacent to an edge of the cushions and the spacing between theaxes of pivoting is at least as great as the dimension of a cushion in adirection normal to the axis of pivoting, whereby concurrent positioningof the cushions horizontally in the same direction relative to theiraxes of pivoting is accommodated.
 3. two chair-like structures facing inthe same direction; and
 4. a surface to support a recumbent body. 4.Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said locking meansincludes means for locking at least some of said cushions in at leastone position below a horizontal position.
 5. A convertible bodysupporting structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said support surfaceis longitudinally transferable by said pivoting means said distance,said supporting means remaining stationary, said support surfacemaintaining a constant size.